Alarm-valve for automatic fire-extinguishers



(ModeL) J. R. BROWN.

ALARM VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. No. 245,913. Patented Aug. 16,1881.

INVENTQRI 1:14 If m u. nuns. Pholvmhvgnphur, mw m. 0. c4

UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIcE.

JOSEPH R. BROWN, OF PROVIDENCE, ASSIGNOE OF TWO-THIRDS TO HENRY A. STEARNS, OF LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND, AND JOHN M. HALL, OF VVAL- LINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ALARM-VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,913, dated August 16, 1881. Application filed March 14, 1881. (ModeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, JOSEPH It. BROWN, of the city and county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alarm-Valves for AutomaticFire-Extin guishers; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in valves used to give an alarm when, in a system of automatic fire-extinguishers, one or more of the distributers are opened.

The object of this invention is to prevent the valve from giving the alarm when by a sudden change of pressure the column of water is disturbed.

The invention consists in providing a byway arranged to equalize any sudden change in pressure and allow such change to operate on both sides of the valve-disk, as will be more full y set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved 5 alarm-valve. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, showing the lever connected with the valve, by which the motion of the valve is transmitted to the outside of the valve casing. Fig. 3 represents a modification of the bypass- 0 valve.

When a building is protected with a system of automatic fireextinguishers a valve is required which will give notice, by detaching or otherwise operating an alarm, when one or more 3 5 of the distributers have been opened by tire,

or when, from any cause, water is being discharged from the system, so that the cause of such discharge can be ascertained and water damage avoided. When in such a system the service-pipe is connected with the street-main, or with a main from which water is drawn at intervals, variations in pressure are caused which affect the alarm-valve. One serious difficulty is the watenhammer caused by the sud- 5 den closing of a discharge from the watermain. Such sudden changes in pressure cause the valve to move and the alarm to be operated when neither a fire nor any other cause for alarm exists.

To avoid these false alarms is the main ob- 5o ject of this invention.

In the drawings, a represents the water-main by which water is supplied to a system of antomatic lire-extinguishers.

b is a cylinder of considerably larger diameter than the water-main. To the lower end of the cylinder b the service-pipe 0 is secured, leading to the valve d, and above the valve the T- shaped pipe 0 forms a continuation of the service-pipe to the system of automatic fire- 6o extinguishers, and abranch, to which the elbow f is secured, forming a connection with the upper end of the cylinder 1). The upper outlet from the cylinder I) is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, with the double-seat valve g, having an upper and a lower valve-seat and fitting loosely in the pipe f.

When a water-main is opened to draw water, and after the water is fully in motion, the outlet is suddenly closed. The arresting of the momentum causes a sudden shock and great increase of pressure, which affects the whole system supplied by the main. This sudden increase of pressure is communicated through the line of least resistance, which is the axis of the pipe.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the operation of the device is as follows: The system of pipes being filled with water in the usual manner, there will be places in the pipes where small quantities 8c of air are lodged. W'hen, now, by any means, the pressure in the supply-main is suddenly increased, the sudden movement of the water in the main a will raise the valve 9 05 its seat and allow some water to pass by the valve 9, which will, however, seat itself instantly. The sudden pressure is therefore transmitted to the upper part of the valve cl as quickly as, if not more quickly, than on the lower part. The valve at will not be disturbed by such change of press- 99 ure, and a false alarm avoided. When, however, one or more of the automatic firc-extin guishers are opened, the loose fit of the valve g will not allow suftlcient water to pass by the same, and the valve g, which is made as light 5 as possible, will be carried against the upper seat, 9', and prevent the flow of water through the pipe f. The valved will now be raised by the reduction of the pressure on its upper face, and the alarm will be sounded.

In place of the valve g, the spring-pressed valve It may be used and the same result ob tained.

The valve d is connected by means of an arm, 1', with a rock-shaft placed into a stuffing-box, 70, which rockshaft is provided outside the valve-case with the arm I. This arm therefore moves with the valve, and various devices may be operated with the arm Z to set an alarm in motion. It may connect or disconnect an armature, thus causing an electric alarm; or it may disconnect any other kind of an alarm.

Having thus described 'myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the alarm-valve in a service-pipe, a byway leading from the main to the servicepipe above the alarm-valve, and a valve in the byway.

2. The combination, with the service-pipe 0 and valve 61, of the chamber 1), the inlet-pipe a, extending above the lower outlet, and the bypass f, provided with the valve 9, whereby the pressure on the alarm-valve is equalized, as described.

3. The combination, with the inlet-pipe a, the chamber 12, the service-pipe 0, connected with the lower end of the chamber 12, the valve d, the T-pipe e, and bypass-pipe f, of a valve constructed to rise and allow Water to pass through the bypass, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH R. BROWN.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. MILLER, J. A. MILLER, Jr. 

